Waterford United 4 - 0 Salthill Devon

• Brendan White
• Sat, Jun 18 2011


Waterford United United saw off bottom of the table Salthill Devon on Friday night in the RSC with a 4-0 win with a brace from Adam McSherry on his home debut.

Salthill Devon started as the brighter team but failed to test Blues keeper Kevin Burns in the early stages despite having most of the possession. Willie John Kiely had the first chance of the game but his strike was blocked after Walsh’s cross.

Paul Murphy volleyed wide before Kiely headed past the post following Dwayne Wilson’s cross. Wilson was involved again minutes later but he failed to hit the target from Adam McSherry.

Wilson had the ball in the back of the net after 21 minutes but referee Sean Grant called play back for an earlier foul on McSherry on the edge of the penalty area. Paul Murphy fired the resulting free kick over the crossbar.

The Blues had the ball in the net a second time three minutes later. Conor Sinnott floated in a right wing free kick, missing Kenny Browne at the front post but finding Kiely at the back post who volleyed home, only for the offside flag to be raised.

Etanda Nkololo was Salthill’s main threat throughout the game and had a good chance after 26 minutes. The winger beat three before a sliding tackle from Seamus Long deflected the ball back off him and out for a goal kick.

Sinnott’s surging run through the middle saw his slide the ball to Kiely who crossed but Wilson couldn’t steer the ball in from a difficult angle. McSherry continued to cause problems while Nkololo was the main threat for the away side.

Waterford United finally took the lead after 42 minutes. Paul Walsh played the ball back to Conor Sinnott who whipped in the cross first time for Dwayne Wilson to fire his header into the top corner and claim his first league goal for the Blues as they lead 1-0 at half time.

Salthill began on the front foot and only for a great sliding block from Kenny Browne, Nkololo would have latched on to Ronan Conlon’s attempted through ball. Ray Winters almost got on the scoresheet in bizarre fashion when Paul Carey’s attempted header cannoned off the defender but dropped just wide of the target.

The decisive second goal arrived and it was the home side who grabbed it on 58 minutes. Paul Walsh set Adam McSherry free down the left and he raced toward goal before slotting the ball under Ronan Forde.

Forde saved well after Kiely failed to get enough contact on a cross from Murphy. Nkololo tried his luck from 30 yards for Salthill at the other end but his effort went harmless wide of the goal.

Waterford added a third goal on 86 minutes. Adam McSherry chested the ball into the path of Paul Murphy and he volleyed into the bottom corner past Forde.

Twenty-seven seconds later the home side added a fourth goal. Conor Sinnott played the through ball for Adam McSherry and he scored his second goal to cap a memorable home debut. Gary Keane had a chance for a fifth late on but Forde saved well.

And so Waterford United head to Turners Cross with confidence after a 4-0 win, and although the game was not a great spectacle, it is a much needed three points for caretaker boss Paul O’Brien. For Salthill Devon, they attacked well in places but left gaping holes at the back which the home side exploited. Etanda Nkololo was the standout performer from the Galway men, looking menacing when on the ball throughout the night.

Waterford United: Burns; Coady, Browne, Long, Carey (Nolan 54’); Wilson, Sinnott, McSherry, Walsh (Keane 85’); Kiely (Dunphy 69’), Murphy.
Subs not used: Barron, Barrett, Dempsey.

Salthill Devon: Forde; Winters, Quinlan, Whelan, O’Leidhinn; Dolan (Molloy 71’), Horgan, Shaw (Lyons 84’), Nkololo; Conlon, Burke (O’Grady 74’).
Subs not used: Power, Quirke.
Booked: O’Leidhinn, Donal, Quinlan.

Referee: Sean Grant.
Man of the Match: Adam McSherry - Two goals on his home debut and impressive throughout.